Stephansdom is the most beautiful leftover of the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire of the Hapsburg family that I've ever seen. It stands in the middle of the luxurious Viennese historic district. An architectural marvel, the church also holds the remains of thousands beneath it. We were in awe of the classic, yet trippy, style of the huge building and the power of its long-gone ruling elite. We toured the awe-inspiring church, and ventured into the crypt below, viewing tombs and caskets, the urns holding ancient organs of the nobility (!), and the dark and cavernous rooms (and skeletons within) that were used to bury plague victims en-masse. It was an eerie combination of morbidity and beauty---sort of the story of the past, itself.

This statue, in Stephansdom, is considered to be cursed. The hundreds-year old effigy of Jesus has been stolen countless times throughout history, but is always returned because ill events befall the thieves that take him. Called the "Jesus with the toothache" (for it's grimace), people don't deign to remove it from its spot today!